THE STAR DONCASTER

MILE (GROUP 1

HANDICAP)

SECOND in the A$3 million Doncaster Mile the past two years, Pat Webster’s seven-year-old Teofilo gelding Happy Clapper has fulfilled his promise, posting a two-length win for his third Group 1 from 11 wins, netting just shy of $6 million in stakes.

A tremendous return for his owner and breeder Michael Thomas who purchased the Encosta De Lago mare Busking for $13,000 from the Darley Stud draft at the 2010 Inglis Melbourne March sale, when carrying Happy Clapper.

“Give me a race, you can have the Golden Slipper, have the Cox Plate. It might have been because we drank at the Doncaster when we were kids but the Doncaster was always the race you wanted to win,” said a jubilant Pat Webster as Happy Clapper returned to a rousing reception, his position as crowd favourite second to only one other. “He’s been a great horse to me. You don’t describe him as a champion but if you took the mare (Winx) away, look at what he’s done.”

Ridden by Blake Shinn, Happy Clapper, second to Winx in three Group 1s, had the sit behind Arbeitsam and Tom Melbourne with Shinn slipping through on the rail to put the contest away in the 16-horse field. Second was the Fastnet Rock gelding Comin’ Through with third to the Snitzel gelding Arbeitsam.